Grassroots Grant Program

The Grassroots Grant is a regional funding initiative administered by Alamance Arts and supported by the North Carolina Arts Council, a state agency under the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources. This funding program is made possible through an appropriation from the North Carolina State Legislature and aims to support nonprofit organizations in Alamance County engaged in planning and delivering arts programming. Alamance Arts, headquartered at 213 South Main Street in Graham, North Carolina, is tasked with administering a total of $56,466.50 in grants for the 2025–2026 fiscal year. The purpose of the Grassroots Grant is to promote the development and accessibility of the arts across a variety of disciplines, including but not limited to music, dance, theater, visual arts, architecture, film and video, photography, creative writing, and traditional or folk arts. The funding can be applied toward both programmatic and operational costs, depending on the type of applicant and the nature of the request. These subgrants are designed to elevate the presence of the arts within communities, schools, and local municipalities, while ensuring diverse representation and access. Funding priorities are explicitly defined by the North Carolina Arts Council. The highest priority is given to providing programmatic or operating support to arts-focused nonprofit organizations. This includes theaters, galleries, art guilds, choral groups, and similar entities, provided that they do not already receive direct operating support from the NC Arts Council. The second tier of priority focuses on arts education initiatives such as artist residencies, after-school programs, and adult learning classes led by qualified artists, but excludes internal school arts programming. The third priority is civic, municipal, or community organizations offering high-quality arts experiences to the public, also led by qualified artists. Applicants must meet a basic eligibility threshold of having operated for at least one year. Although IRS-designated 501(c)(3) nonprofit status is preferred, other nonprofit entities without formal designation may be eligible to receive subgrants. Applications will be evaluated by a community review panel that is independent of any applicant. Priority consideration will be given to proposals that include a confirmed cash match and align with the NC Arts Council’s requirement for multicultural distribution. Specifically, 42% of the funding awarded in Alamance County must benefit multicultural programming or be used to pay multicultural artists, and applicants contributing to this requirement will receive stronger consideration. To apply, applicants must download and complete the application form, which must be submitted via email to associate@alamancearts.org no later than Friday, August 29 at 5:00 PM. It is important to note that only the first occurrence of the application form should be completed, as the first page is duplicated. Additionally, applicants are instructed not to include the name of their organization in any narrative portions of the application. Award notifications will be issued in mid-October. Further inquiries about the grant process can be directed to Alamance Arts via email at arts@alamancearts.org or by phone at (336) 226-4495. The organization maintains public hours from Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The Grassroots Grant offers local nonprofit entities a significant opportunity to secure funding for enriching and inclusive arts programming that serves the broader community in Alamance County.